Bridging the gap between self-induced insanity and enlightenment the art of self-deception is a fairly unorthodox school of illusion magic akin to self-hypnosis which is so obscure many believe it dose not exist, this dose not however come from the illusion's being forbidden, kept secret nor from their effectiveness; rather from the perceived lack of value in casting an illusion on oneself "self-deception? is that some kind of joke?". Illusions are almost always used to fool, control, torment or interrogate others so the idea of performing them on yourself seems at best impractical and at worst suicidal. However there are some benefits that come with this new line of thinking, the caster is fully aware that the illusion is not real, and can cancel its effects at any time, also there is no chance of the illusion failing as the trigger is simply deciding to perform the illusion in the first place. It is also useful in training with illusions in general, as through casting them on oneself the practitioner gains a greater understanding of how they function and how best to control them. However to one who has mastered it the control over their own perception becomes an exceptional tool with various practical uses.

Name: The escapist's dream Description: A technique which is the necessary precursor to being able to cast illusions on one's self at all, study in this technique begins by pushing the limits of one's daydreaming or fantasies and steadily focusing ones mana on them. Eventually the user reaches a state of "acceptance of mind" in which they can begin to convince themselves that whatever they envision is indeed happening. The result is a waking lucid dream that the user is in complete control over, able to perceive anything through their five senses that they wish, though they will have to train for some time before they can avoid moving their bodies and acting out this dream. This comes with many disadvantages, addiction and growing detached from reality being the foremost, but if the user can overcome these they will reach a mental clarity and focus akin to a personal enlightenment. Practically however this technique has no real use whatsoever, apart from perhaps a therapeutic one in 'decompressing' from stressful missions or soothing one's mind after a traumatic event. Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: All techniques in this tree require this one in order to learn themCost: negligibleRank: E

Name: Notes to self Description: A more practical application for self-deception, the user is able to "mark" things in their range of vision, be it drawing imaginary lines to circle or underline important objects or targets, highlight things by making them appear to glow, drawing imaginary arrows or even text the user can make visual "notes" on things the way they would in a textbook. One practical use for this illusion is highlighting ones own footprints to tell where the user has stepped before and avoid getting lost on missions. Another use might be keeping people's names above their heads so as to avoid forgetting them. Though seemingly trivial the user can commit these 'notes' to memory and see them next to what they marked at all times if they so wish. This technique is ideal for academy students hoping to cheat on exams as it stores an imaginary 'cheat sheet' behind their very eyes.Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Escapist's dream Cost: E (a "use" constitutes taking notes on one target)Rank: D

Name: A blind eye to nature's wisdomDescription: This technique seems ideal at first, but upon some thought is actually extremely high-risk, hence its almost prophetic name. In short the user simply "shuts off" physical pain and discomfort by employing mana to convince themselves that they are not in any. The advantage is obvious, no pain, but the disadvantages are almost too numerous to count, namely that the user could be in serious mortal danger and not even realize, meaning to use this illusion is to insight all manor of injury and risk. In addition to the risk involved the user's overall sense of touch is reduced slightly, though this dose not impair fine manual dexterity or ones motor skills, it dose mean that it would be impossible to judge risk by though alone, the user would not feel fire on their skin as "warm", they would not feel it at all! They would however feel the tools in their hands, the ground on their feet, the wall they've backed in to exedra but the moment anything would be painful its simply not felt. To use this technique all the time is nothing short of out right suicide so it is only used in controlled short term periods. (this removes actual pain, not the effects of an illusion, and effectively trades the toll on the focus pain creates for the enhanced possibility of death and injury)Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Cost: DRank: C

Name: Incorporeal leaping illusionDescription: An illusion in which the user triggers an 'out of body experience' where the user sees their "point of view" shift behind them and then up above them till they are looking down on themselves as if from an imaginary glass ceiling. The user is still able to control their body though must learn to adjust for this new method of seeing it, which takes extensive training. Once the user has mastered this however the advantage in this technique becomes clear, as the user gains a highly advantageous perspective in combat as they can see the entire fight rather then just what is directly in front of them. The downside to this technique is that the user becomes easy to fool if one conceals an attack underneath something, as they are now looking down on the situation rather then strait ahead, though it is unlikely an enemy will try this without first figuring out that they have used some kind of trick, making this a tactical ploy rather then a way to increase the user's own tactical mental ability or gain tactical advantage. The user can only go so far "back" they can have their point of view as close their body as they like but can only really go back far enough so that the top of the head and shoulders is approximately one fifth of their total vision. (this is not three hundred sixty degree vision, rather simply a 'top down' perspective, if the user lays down they will take up more of their own field of view)Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Cost: CRank: C

Name: Description: an Illusionary counter technique in which the user, after recognizing they are caught in an enemy's illusion (independent of this technique) uses their "acceptance of mind" to Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Cost: Rank:

Name: Inner-self clone creationDescription: More of a meditation technique then an illusion, the user creates an illusionary clone of themselves which only they can see, unlike the escapist's dream illusion however this clone is outside the user's control, and is instead "played" by the user's own subconscious mind. This enables the user to talk to their own subconscious, question it, carry out conversations with it, even argue with it. The advantage to this technique is that the user can instantly accomplish introspection which would otherwise take a lifetime to accomplish, knowing exactly what they want, exactly how they feel and exactly what they are like in the deepest reaches of their mind. In addition to this the subconscious mind can remember anything the user has ever known learned or experienced, regardless of the conscious mind's knowledge or awareness, meaning the user will never suffer from being unable to recall something due to simply forgetting or from having the memory blocked out, either by the conscious mind or by an illusion. Users of this technique become somewhat detached from the rest of humanity as they begin to know themselves so well normal people seem like awkward adolescents by comparison. (this technique cannot be used to ask the clone to control the involuntary functions of the users body, the clone will simply refuse, the user can not control their subconscious, merely speak to it)Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Notes to selfCost: CRank: B

Name: Description: Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Cost: Rank:

Last edited by Rasher on Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:50 am; edited 1 time in total

Name: Incorporeal surgical theaterDescription: A combination of "a blind eye to nature's wisdom" and the "Incorporeal leaping illusion" used by medical heros lays down in a sanitized environment with all their tools prepared and at the ready then "jumps" out of their own body and gains the visual perspective of floating above it as if on an imaginary glass ceiling, while outside the body they feel no actual pain and can see illusionary vital signs on their own body as provided by their subconscious mind. In this state the user can actually perform surgery on themselves unassisted, without anesthetics and with only hand tools without fear of passing out from the extraordinary pain! As impressive as this sounds the risk involved is astronomical and even if the operation is a success the user will almost certainly be totally physically and mentally exhausted afterwords. The time necessary to perform surgery makes this technique impossible to use in combat but can be an essential tool in saving ones own life in an emergency. Needless to say if the surgery is major enough the user will pass out after the last stitch is finished from shear mental and physical strain but even minor surgeries will still need a lengthy recovery time to be effective. Trigger: The only trigger for the art of self-deception is simply deciding to use it, as it is cast only on the caster directly it requires no other triggerDuration: as long as the user wishes, since the illusion is self-imposed the mind dose not actively question and resist as it does with other illusionsRequirements: Notes to self, Incorporeal leaping illusion, A blind eye to natures wisdom, and inner-self clone creation and the user must be a medical hero and able to perform surgery, the user will also have to spend a considerable amount of time recovering from the surgery in rp, depending on how invasive it was. Cost: ARank: A